Records of Wei, Volume 9
[Wei Chronicle, Part 9] Beginning from the year of the Soft-Wood Rat (Bingzi year) and ending in the year of the Heavy-Light Great Waste (Xinsi year), a total of six years.
Spring, first month. Jiang Wei of Shu Han was promoted to Grand General.
Second month, on the day Bingchen, the Wei emperor held a banquet for the assembled ministers in the Eastern Hall of the Grand Ultimate, and discussed with various scholars the merits and demerits of Shao Kang of the Xia dynasty and Emperor Gaozu of Han, deeming Shao Kang superior.
Summer, fourth month, on the day Gengxu, the emperor bestowed on Grand General Sima Zhao the ceremonial robe and crown with the cap of a feudal lord, along with red shoes.
On the day Bingchen, the emperor inspected the Imperial Academy and discussed the "Book of Documents," the "Book of Changes," and the "Book of Rites" with various scholars, none of whom could match him. The emperor often discoursed, feasted, and wrote essays together with Chief Protector of the Army Sima Wang, Palace Attendant Wang Shen, Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary Pei Xiu, and Yellow Gate Attendant-in-Ordinary Zhong Hui in the Eastern Hall, treating them with special favor. He called Pei Xiu the "Elder of the Grove of Scholars" and Wang Shen the "Master of Literary Works." The emperor was of a hasty temperament and wished for his summons to arrive quickly; because Sima Wang held an external post, he specially bestowed on him a "Pursuing Swift Chariot" and five Tiger-Beng guards, so that whenever there was a gathering, he could come at a gallop. Pei Xiu was the son of Pei Qian.
Sixth month, on the day Bingwu, the reign title was changed.
Jiang Wei was at Zhongti. Many of those who discussed the matter believed that Jiang Wei’s strength was exhausted and he could no longer dispatch troops. The General of Pacifying the West, Deng Ai, said: "The defeat west of the Tao River was no small loss. The soldiers are shattered and broken, the granaries empty, and the common people are displaced. Now, analyzing from strategy: First, they have a momentum of victory, while we have a reality of weakness. Second, their superiors and subordinates are familiar with each other, their weapons are sharp; our generals are changed, our soldiers newly recruited, and our equipment not yet restored. Third, they travel by boats, while we use foot soldiers; the labor and ease differ. Fourth, Di Dao, Longxi, Nan’an, and Mount Qi all need to be defended; they concentrate on one place, while we are spread across four. Fifth, from Nan’an and Longxi they can rely on the Qiang people’s grain for food; if they head toward Mount Qi, there are a thousand qing of ripe wheat, serving as their external granary. The bandits have cunning plans; they will surely come."
Autumn, seventh month. Jiang Wei again led troops out of Mount Qi. Hearing that Deng Ai was already prepared, he turned back and marched from Dongting toward Nan’an. Deng Ai occupied Wucheng Mountain to resist him. Jiang Wei failed to seize the strategic point from Deng Ai. That night, he crossed the Wei River eastward and advanced along the mountains toward Shanggui. Deng Ai engaged him at Duan Valley and inflicted a great defeat on Jiang Wei. The court appointed Deng Ai as General of Pacifying the West and Commander-in-Chief of Military Affairs of Longyou. Jiang Wei had agreed with his General of Pacifying the West, Hu Ji, to meet at Shanggui, but Hu Ji missed the appointment and did not arrive, thus the defeat occurred. The soldiers scattered, and many died. The people of Shu therefore resented Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei submitted a memorial confessing his fault and requested self-demotion; consequently, he acted as General of the Guards and exercised the powers of Grand General.
Eighth month, on the day Gengwu, an imperial edict ordered that Sima Zhao be given the additional title of Commander-in-Chief, that he need not state his name when presenting memorials, and that he be granted the Yellow Axe.
On the day Guiyou, the Grand Commandant Sima Fu was appointed Grand Tutor. Ninth month, the Minister of Works Gao Rou was appointed Grand Commandant.
Wen Qin persuaded the Wu people of the benefits of invading Wei. Sun Jun sent Wen Qin together with the General of Chariots and Cavalry Lü Ju, the General of Chariots and Cavalry Liu Zuan, the General of Pacifying the South Zhu Yi, and the General of the Van Tang Zi to enter the Huai and Si Rivers from Jiangdu, aiming to take Qing and Xu provinces. Sun Jun bade them farewell at Stone City but suddenly fell gravely ill, entrusting his affairs to his cousin, the Lieutenant-General Sun Chen. On the day Dinghai, Sun Jun died. The Wu people appointed Sun Chen as Palace Attendant, General of Military Guards, and Commander-in-Chief of All Military Affairs within and without, and recalled Lü Ju and the others.
On the day Jichou, the Grand Commandant of Wu, Lü Dai, died at the age of ninety-six. Initially, Lü Dai was close to a man of Wu Commandery named Xu Yuan. Xu Yuan was generous and had talent and ambition. Lü Dai knew he could become a great talent, so he gave him a turban and a single garment, discussed matters with him, and later recommended and promoted him, until he reached the post of Palace Attendant Imperial Secretary. Xu Yuan was loyal and upright in nature and loved to speak directly. Whenever Lü Dai had faults, Xu Yuan would remonstrate directly and also discuss them openly. Someone told this to Lü Dai, who sighed and said: "This is exactly why I valued Xu Deyuan!" When Xu Yuan died, Lü Dai wept bitterly and said: "Xu Deyuan is my beneficial friend. Now he has unfortunately passed away; from whom else can I hear of my own faults?" All who discussed this praised him.
When Lü Ju heard that Sun Chen had replaced Sun Jun as regent, he was enraged. Together with various generals and commanders, he submitted a joint memorial recommending Teng Yin as Chancellor. Sun Chen instead appointed Teng Yin as Grand Commandant to replace Lü Dai in guarding Wuchang. Lü Ju led his army back and sent someone to inform Teng Yin, intending to depose Sun Chen together. Winter, tenth month, on the day Dingwei, Sun Chen sent his cousin Sun Xian to lead troops to intercept Lü Ju at Jiangdu, sent a palace messenger to order Wen Qin, Liu Zuan, and Tang Zi to jointly attack and capture Lü Ju, and also sent the Palace Attendant Left General Hua Rong and the Director of the Imperial Secretariat Ding Yan to instruct Teng Yin that he should leave as soon as possible. Teng Yin, believing disaster was imminent, detained Hua Rong and Ding Yan, deployed troops to defend himself, summoned the Army Supervisor Yang Chong and General Sun Zi, told them that Sun Chen was in rebellion, and forced Hua Rong and the others to write a letter denouncing Sun Chen. Sun Chen ignored it, submitted a memorial claiming that Teng Yin was plotting rebellion, promised to enfeoff General Liu Cheng, and ordered him to lead cavalry to besiege Teng Yin. Teng Yin then kidnapped Hua Rong and the others, forcing them to issue a false edict to raise troops. Hua Rong and the others refused and were all killed. Someone advised Teng Yin to lead troops to the Canglong Gate: "When the officers and soldiers see you come out, they will surely leave Sun Chen and flock to you." It was already midnight. Teng Yin, relying on his agreement with Lü Ju and finding it difficult to attack the palace, ordered his troops to be restrained, saying that Lord Lü’s army was already on the nearby road. Therefore, his troops were all willing to die for Teng Yin, and none dispersed. Teng Yin’s expression did not change; he talked and laughed as usual. There was a strong wind. By daybreak, Lü Ju had not arrived. Sun Chen’s forces assembled in great numbers, then killed Teng Yin and several dozen of his officers and soldiers, and exterminated Teng Yin’s three clans. On the day Jiyou, a general amnesty was declared and the reign title changed to Taiping. Someone advised Lü Ju to flee to Wei, but Lü Ju said: "I am ashamed to be a rebel minister," and then committed suicide.
The Minister of Works Zheng Chong was appointed Minister of the Masses, and the Left Chief Steward Lu Yu was appointed Minister of Works. Lu Yu steadfastly declined in favor of the General of Chariots and Cavalry Wang Chang, the Glorious Grand Master Wang Guan, and the Colonel of the Metropolitan Police, Wang Xiang of Langya. The edict did not allow it. Wang Xiang was extremely filial in nature. His stepmother, Lady Zhu, treated him very unkindly, but Wang Xiang became even more respectful and cautious. Lady Zhu’s son, Wang Lan, was only a few years old and would always weep and embrace his mother whenever he saw Wang Xiang beaten. When his mother unreasonably sent Wang Xiang on errands, Wang Lan would go along with him. When they grew up and married, the mother abused Wang Xiang’s wife, and Wang Lan’s wife also went to share the suffering. The mother was troubled by this and thus restrained herself somewhat. As Wang Xiang gradually gained a reputation, his mother became very jealous and secretly sent someone to poison Wang Xiang. Wang Lan knew of this and immediately rose to take the wine. Wang Xiang fought for it and would not give it up, and the mother hastily snatched it back and poured it away. From then on, whenever the mother gave Wang Xiang food, Wang Lan always tasted it first. Fearing that Wang Lan would be poisoned, the mother desisted. During the turmoil at the end of the Han dynasty, Wang Xiang lived in seclusion for over thirty years without responding to summons from the provinces and commanderies. After his mother died, he was so grief-stricken and emaciated that he could only rise by leaning on a staff. The Inspector of Xuzhou, Lü Qian, summoned him as a Registrar and entrusted the administration of the province to him. The borders of the province were peaceful and tranquil, and government and moral transformation were widely practiced. The people of the time sang: "The peace of the sea and Yi, truly depends on Wang Xiang; the state is not empty, it is the Registrar’s merit!"
Eleventh month. Sun Chen of Wu was promoted to Grand General. Sun Chen, relying on his high position, was arrogant and committed many discourteous acts. Sun Jun’s cousin Sun Xian had participated in the killing of Zhuge Ke. Sun Jun treated him generously, and he rose to the rank of Right General and Wunan Commander, overseeing the Nine Offices. Sun Chen treated Sun Xian more harshly than Sun Jun had. Sun Xian became angry and plotted with General Wang Dun to kill Sun Chen. The plot leaked. Sun Chen killed Wang Dun, and Sun Xian poisoned himself.
Spring, third month. The Marquis of Daliangcheng, Lu Yu, died.
In summer, the fourth month, the Wu ruler went to the main hall, declared a general amnesty, and began personally handling government affairs. Sun Chen presented memorials on matters, but was repeatedly interrogated. He also inspected military families, selecting over three thousand sons aged fifteen to eighteen, and chose young and brave men from among the sons of high generals to command them. Every day he trained them in the gardens, saying: "I am establishing this army, wanting them to grow up together with me." He also frequently went to the Central Secretariat to examine old records from the time of the Former Emperor, asking his attendants: "The late emperor often issued special edicts. Now when the Grand General asks about matters, does he only want me to sign and agree?" Once he ate raw plums and sent a eunuch to the Central Treasury to get honey. There was rat dung in the honey. He summoned the treasury official to question him, and the official kowtowed. The Wu ruler said: "Did the eunuch ask you for honey?" The treasury official said: "He asked before, but I really did not dare give it." The eunuch did not confess. The Wu ruler had someone cut open the rat dung; the inside was dry. He then laughed greatly and said to his attendants: "If the dung had been in the honey first, both inside and out would have been wet. Now the outside is wet and the inside dry—this must have been done by the eunuch." He interrogated the eunuch, who indeed confessed. None of the attendants were not startled and fearful.
The Grand General who Conquers the East, Zhuge Dan, had long been on good terms with Xiahou Xuan, Deng Yang, and others. After Xiahou Xuan and the others died, and Wang Ling and Guanqiu Jian were successively executed, Zhuge Dan became uneasy. He therefore distributed goods from the treasury and storehouses, bent the law to pardon criminals, in order to win people's hearts, and raised several thousand light and chivalrous rangers from Yang Province as death-defying troops. Because the Wu people intended to attack Xu'ao, he requested to lead one hundred thousand troops to guard Shouchun, and also requested to build a city at Linhuai to prepare against Wu invaders. Sima Zhao had just taken charge of the government. The Chief Clerk Jia Chong requested to send adjutants to comfort the four generals who conquered the frontiers and to observe their intentions. Sima Zhao sent Jia Chong to Huainan. When Jia Chong saw Zhuge Dan, they discussed current affairs. Jia Chong then said: "All the worthy men in Luoyang hope for a voluntary abdication to replace Wei. What do you think?" Zhuge Dan said sternly: "Are you not the son of Jia Yuzhou? Your family has received Wei's favor for generations—how can you want to give the state to someone else! If there is danger in Luoyang, I will die in repayment." Jia Chong was silent. After he returned, he said to Sima Zhao: "Zhuge Dan is again in office in Yang Province, and he has deeply won the hearts of the officers and men. If you summon him now, he will certainly not come, but the rebellion will be quick and the harm small. If you do not summon him, the rebellion will be slow but the harm great. It is better to summon him." Sima Zhao followed this advice. On the day jiazi, an edict appointed Zhuge Dan as Minister of Works and summoned him to the capital. When Zhuge Dan received the edict, he became even more fearful. He suspected that the Inspector of Yang Province, Le Chen, was alienating him, so he killed Le Chen, gathered the troops and colonists from the commanderies and counties of Huainan and Huaibei—over one hundred thousand officers and men—and the newly submitted elite troops of Yang Province, forty to fifty thousand men, accumulated enough grain for one year's consumption, and made plans to close the gates and defend himself. He sent the Chief Clerk Wu Gang to take his young son Zhuge Jing to Wu, to declare himself a vassal and request aid, and also to request that the sons of his military officers be taken as hostages.
The wives of Teng Yin and Lü Ju in Wu were both sisters of Sun Yi, the Commander of Xiakou. In the sixth month, Sun Chen sent the General Who Pacifies the South, Zhu Yi, to lead troops from Hulin to attack Sun Yi. When Zhu Yi reached Wuchang, Sun Yi led his personal troops to defect to Wei. On the day yisi, an edict appointed Sun Yi as General of Chariot and Cavalry, Inspector of Jiaozhou, enfeoffed him as Marquis of Wu, allowed him to open a and recruit staff, gave him the same as the Three Excellencies, bestowed upon him the ceremonial robe and red shoes, and treated him with exceptional generosity.
Sima Zhao accompanied the emperor and the empress dowager in a campaign against Zhuge Dan. When Wu Gang reached Wu, the Wu people were very pleased. They sent the generals Quan Yi, Quan Duan, Tang Zi, and Wang Zuo to lead thirty thousand troops, together with Wen Qin, to rescue Zhuge Dan. They appointed Zhuge Dan as Left Chief Guardian, Holder of the Imperial Emblem, Grand Minister of Education, General of Cavalry, and Inspector of Qingzhou, and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Shouchun. Quan Yi was the son of Quan Cong; Quan Duan was Quan Yi's nephew.
On the day jiazi of the sixth month, the emperor's carriage halted at Xiang County. Sima Zhao commanded the various armies, totaling two hundred sixty thousand men, and advanced to Qiutou. He appointed the General Who Pacifies the South, Wang Ji, as acting General Who Pacifies the East, commanding the military affairs of Yang and Yu provinces, together with the General Who Pacifies the East, Chen Qian, and others to besiege Shouchun. When Wang Ji first arrived, the siege had not yet been completely closed. Wen Qin, Quan Yi, and others, taking advantage of the rugged terrain northeast of the city, were able to lead their troops to break into the city. Sima Zhao ordered Wang Ji to withdraw his troops and strengthen his fortifications. Wang Ji repeatedly requested to advance and attack. At that time, Wu's Zhu Yi led thirty thousand men to station at Anfeng as external support for Wen Qin. An imperial edict ordered Wang Ji to lead the various armies to shift and occupy the northern mountains. Wang Ji said to his generals: "Now the siege fortifications are gradually becoming solid, and troops and horses are also gathering here. We should only carefully repair our defenses, waiting for the enemy to flee. But instead, we are to move troops to defend dangerous points, allowing the enemy to act freely. Even if there were a wise man, he could not handle the aftermath well!" He therefore insisted on a favorable deployment and submitted a memorial saying: "Now, when confronting the enemy army, one should be as stable as Mount Tai. If we move to rely on dangerous terrain, the army's morale will be shaken, and the harm to the situation will be extremely great. The various armies have all together occupied deep ditches and high ramparts. The hearts of the multitudes are already settled and cannot be shaken. This is the essential principle of commanding troops." When the memorial was submitted, it was approved. Wang Ji and the others then surrounded the city from all sides, forming an inner and outer ring, with ditches and ramparts extremely solid. Wen Qin and the others repeatedly sortied to break out, but Wang Ji met them and repelled them. Sima Zhao also sent the General Who Exerts his Martial Might, overseeing the military affairs of Qing Province, Shi Bao, to lead the Inspector of Yanzhou, Zhou Tai, the Inspector of Xuzhou, Hu Zhi, and others to select elite troops and form mobile units to guard against external enemies. Zhou Tai defeated Zhu Yi at Yangyuan. Zhu Yi fled, and Zhou Tai pursued him, killing and wounding two thousand men.
In the autumn of the seventh month, Sun Chen, the Grand General of Wu, mobilized a large force of soldiers and stationed them at Huli. He also sent Zhu Yi, leading Generals Ding Feng and Li Fei among five others, to relieve the siege of Shouchun. Zhu Yi left his supplies at Dulu and advanced to encamp at Lijiang, where Shi Bao and Zhou Tai defeated him again. Hu Lie, the Grand Administrator of Taishan, led a surprise force of five thousand troops to attack Dulu, burning all of Zhu Yi's provisions and grain. Zhu Yi, leading his remaining soldiers, fed on kudzu leaves and fled back to Sun Chen. Sun Chen ordered Zhu Yi to fight to the death, but Zhu Yi, lacking food for his troops, disobeyed Sun Chen's command. Sun Chen, enraged, executed Zhu Yi at Huli on the day of Jisi in the ninth month. On the day of Xinwei, Sun Chen led his army back to Jianye. Having failed to rescue Zhuge Dan, losing troops, and killing his own renowned general, Sun Chen incurred the resentment of all Wu. Sima Zhao remarked, "Zhu Yi's failure to reach Shouchun was not his fault, yet Wu killed him to apologize to Shouchun and to stiffen Zhuge Dan's resolve, making him still hope for rescue. Now we must tighten the siege, guard against their escape, and employ various means to lead them into error." He then spread disinformation, claiming, "Wu's reinforcements are about to arrive; our army lacks food and is sending the old and weak to Huainan for provisions; the situation cannot last long." Zhuge Dan and his men indulged in eating and drinking, but soon the city's provisions ran out and no outside help arrived. Generals Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi, Zhuge Dan's trusted strategists, said to him, "Zhu Yi and others led a large force but could not advance; Sun Chen killed Zhu Yi and returned to Jiangdong. In name he dispatched troops, but in reality he waits to see the outcome. Now, while morale is still stable and soldiers are willing to fight, we should unite in a desperate attack on one direction. Even if we cannot achieve complete victory, there is still a chance for survival; if we wait idly for death, nothing will be accomplished." Wen Qin said, "You now lead over a hundred thousand men to submit to Wu, and Wen Qin along with Quan Duan and others are all in a death trap. Our fathers, brothers, and sons are all south of the Yangtze; even if Sun Chen did not wish to come, would the ruler and his relatives consent? Moreover, the Central Plains have no year without war; the army and people are exhausted. If we hold out for a year, internal turmoil will arise. Why abandon this and take a desperate gamble?" Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi persistently advised, and Wen Qin grew angry. Zhuge Dan wanted to kill Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi, but they, fearing for their lives, abandoned Zhuge Dan in the eleventh month, crossed the city wall, and surrendered. Quan Yi's nephews, Quan Hui and Quan Yi, in Jianye, became embroiled in a legal dispute with their family, and taking their mother, led several dozen households of their retainers to defect. Thus, Quan Yi, along with his nephew Quan Jing and Quan Duan's younger brothers Quan Pian and Quan Ji, were all with their troops in Shouchun. Sima Zhao, following a plan from Huangmen Shilang Zhong Hui, secretly wrote letters in the name of Quan Hui and Quan Yi, sending them into the city via trusted messengers to inform Quan Yi and the others, saying, "The Wu court is furious that you failed to take Shouchun and intends to kill all the families of the generals; therefore, we have fled to submit." In the twelfth month, Quan Yi and his followers led several thousand men to open the city gates and surrender, throwing the city into shock and fear, with no one knowing what to do. The emperor issued an edict appointing Quan Yi as General of Pacifying the East and enfeoffing him as Marquis of Linxiang; Quan Duan and the others also received various rewards and appointments.
In Shu Han, Jiang Wei heard that Wei had sent its Guanzhong forces to Huainan and sought to exploit the weakness by attacking Qinchuan. He led several tens of thousands of troops out from the Luo Valley, reaching Shenling. At that time, the garrison at Changcheng had large stores of grain but few defenders. Sima Wang, the General Who Conquers the West and Commander of the Military Affairs of Yongzhou and Liangzhou, along with Deng Ai, the General Who Pacifies the West, advanced to occupy the area to resist Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei set up camp at Mangshui and challenged the enemy multiple times, but Sima Wang and Deng Ai did not respond.
At this time, Jiang Wei had launched several campaigns, causing hardship among the people of Shu. Zhongsan Daifu Qiao Zhou composed a treatise titled "On the Hostile States" to remonstrate indirectly, saying: "Someone asked: What is the method of those in ancient times who could overcome the strong with the weak? I reply: I have heard that those in a large state without worries are often arrogant; those in a small state with worries are often thoughtful. Arrogance breeds chaos; thoughtfulness brings stability—this is a constant principle. Thus, King Wen of Zhou nurtured his people and used a small force to conquer a large one; Gou Jian cared for his subjects and used weakness to destroy strength—these were their methods. Someone said: In the past, Xiang Yu was strong and Liu Bang was weak; they fought each other. Xiang Yu and Liu Bang agreed to divide their territory at the Hong Canal and each withdraw to give the people rest. Zhang Liang believed that once the people's allegiance was fixed, it would be hard to change, so he pursued and attacked Xiang Yu, ultimately destroying him. Must one necessarily follow King Wen's method? I reply: In the time of Shang and Zhou, the lords were hereditary and honored, the relationship between ruler and minister was long and stable, and the people were accustomed to single loyalty. What was deep-rooted was hard to uproot; what was firmly held was hard to move. In that era, even Emperor Gaozu of Han could not have seized the world with sword and whip! By the time of Qin, when the feudal lords were abolished and commanderies and counties were established, the people were exhausted by Qin's corvée labor, and the empire crumbled like earth and tile. Sometimes the ruler changed in a year, sometimes in a month; the people were as startled as birds and beasts, not knowing whom to follow. Then the powerful rose and contended, dividing the empire like tigers and wolves; those who moved swiftly gained much, those who were slow were devoured. Now, we and the enemy state have both undergone dynastic transitions; it is neither the boiling chaos of the end of Qin, nor does it resemble the situation of the Six States standing side by side. Thus, we can emulate King Wen but find it hard to imitate Emperor Gaozu. When the people are weary, it is the sign of impending chaos; when the ruler is arrogant and the ministers cruel, it is the symptom of disintegration. The proverb says: 'Shooting arrows carelessly and missing often is worse than aiming carefully before releasing.' Therefore, the wise man is not distracted by small gains, nor does he alter his course for seeming opportunities. He acts when the time is right and rises when the situation is favorable. Thus, the armies of King Tang and King Wu won without a second battle—this is because they valued the toil of the people and carefully weighed the moment. If one exhausts the military without restraint, the situation of crumbling earth and tile will arise. If misfortune strikes, even the wise will have no plan."
In the spring, in the first month, Wen Qin said to Zhuge Dan: "Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi think that we cannot break out of the city and have fled, while Quan Duan and Quan Yi have led their troops to surrender to the enemy. This is a time when the enemy is off guard, and we can launch an attack." Zhuge Dan, Tang Zi, and others all considered this correct, so they mass-produced siege equipment and attacked the southern encirclement day and night for five or six consecutive days, attempting to break out. On the siege walls, the various armies shot stone-launching carts and fire arrows from a height, burning their siege equipment head-on; arrows and stones fell like rain, the dead and wounded lay everywhere, blood filled the moat, yet they still could not break out. Food within the city gradually ran out, and tens of thousands surrendered. Wen Qin wanted to drive all the northerners out of the city to conserve food and hold out with the Wu people, but Zhuge Dan did not agree, and from then on, discord and resentment arose. Wen Qin had long had a grudge against Zhuge Dan, and they had only cooperated temporarily because their plans aligned; when matters became urgent, mutual suspicion grew. Wen Qin went to see Zhuge Dan to discuss affairs, and Zhuge Dan then killed him. Wen Qin’s sons, Wen Yang and Wen Hu, were leading troops in the small city. When they heard that Wen Qin had been killed, they led their troops to rush over; but the men under their command were unwilling to follow, so the two of them alone scaled the wall and fled, surrendering themselves to Sima Zhao. The military officials requested their execution, but Sima Zhao said: "Wen Qin’s crime cannot be atoned for even with death, and his sons would normally deserve death as well; but Wen Yang and Wen Hu have surrendered because they have no other choice, and the city has not yet fallen. If we kill them, it will harden the resolve of those inside." So he pardoned Wen Yang and Wen Hu, sent them to lead several hundred cavalry to circle the city, shouting: "Even Wen Qin’s sons are not killed, what fear should the rest have?" He also submitted a memorial appointing both Wen Yang and Wen Hu as generals, granting them the title of Marquis of Guannei. The people inside the city were greatly pleased, yet grew hungrier and more desperate day by day. Sima Zhao personally went to inspect the siege, and seeing that those holding bows on the city wall did not shoot, he said: "We can attack!" Then he advanced on all four sides, simultaneously beating drums and shouting as they climbed the walls. On the day Yiyou in the second month, they captured Shouchun. Zhuge Dan, in dire straits, mounted a single horse and led his men to break out of the small city in an attempt to flee, but Sima Hu led troops to attack and killed him, and his entire clan was exterminated. Several hundred of Zhuge Dan’s followers stood in ranks with folded hands, refusing to surrender; each time one was killed, they were urged to surrender, but they never changed their stance, until all were executed. The Wu general Yu Quan said: "A great man, receiving his lord’s command to lead troops to rescue others, can neither achieve victory nor be captured alive by the enemy. I will not do this." So he removed his helmet, charged into the enemy ranks, and died. Tang Zi, Wang Zuo, and others all surrendered. Ten thousand Wu soldiers and a mountain of weapons were captured.
When Sima Zhao first surrounded Shouchun, Wang Ji, Shi Bao, and others all wanted to attack swiftly, but Sima Zhao thought: "Shouchun’s walls are strong and its defenders numerous; an attack would surely exhaust our forces. If external enemies come, we would be caught between two fronts, which is dangerous. Now the three rebels are gathered in a single isolated city; perhaps Heaven intends them to be destroyed together. I should use a completely safe strategy to contain them. By holding three sides, if the Wu bandits come by land, their provisions will surely be insufficient. I will send mobile units and light cavalry to cut off their supply lines, and we can defeat them without battle. Once the Wu bandits are broken, Zhuge Dan and the others will surely be captured!" So he ordered the various armies to hold their positions and defend, and in the end, they captured the city without the need for a major assault. Some in the discussions thought: "Huainan has seen repeated rebellions, and the Wu soldiers’ families are all south of the Yangtze; we cannot let them go. They should all be buried alive." Sima Zhao said: "In ancient warfare, sparing the enemy’s state was considered the best strategy; only the ringleaders should be executed. Even if the Wu soldiers manage to escape back, it will just demonstrate the broad-mindedness of the Central Plains." Not a single one was killed; they were distributed among the commanderies near the Three Rivers to be settled. He appointed Tang Zi as General of Pacifying the Distant, and the remaining subordinate officers were all given official titles, so the people were sincerely convinced. Those officers, soldiers, and commoners from Huainan who had been coerced by Zhuge Dan were all pardoned. He allowed the Wen brothers to collect their father’s corpse, providing them with carts and oxen to transport it to their old grave for burial.
Sima Zhao wrote to Wang Ji, saying: "At first, the discussants were in turmoil, and many wanted to move the troops. At the time, not being on the scene, I also thought it might be appropriate. But you, General, deeply considered the advantages and disadvantages, alone held firm to your resolve, defying orders from above and rejecting opinions from below, and ultimately subdued the enemy and captured the bandits. Even the achievements recorded by the ancients could not surpass this." Sima Zhao wanted to send the various armies on a light, deep strike to summon the sons and younger brothers of Tang Zi and others, taking advantage of the momentum to create a force for destroying Wu. Wang Ji admonished: "In the past, Zhuge Ke, relying on his victory at Dongguan, mobilized all the troops of Jiangnan to besiege Xincheng; the city was not taken, and more than half of his soldiers died. Jiang Wei, taking advantage of his favorable position west of the Tao River, advanced lightly with few troops, but supplies could not keep up, and his army was annihilated at Shanggui. After a great victory, the high and low tend to underestimate the enemy; underestimating the enemy leads to considering difficulties insufficiently. Now the bandits have just suffered defeat abroad and have internal troubles unresolved; this is precisely the time for them to repair their defenses and plan their strategies. Moreover, our troops have been in the field for a year, and the soldiers long to return home. We have now captured or killed a hundred thousand men, and the principal criminals are seized. In all the campaigns from ancient times to the present, there has never been such a victory as this, with our forces preserved intact and the enemy defeated alone. Emperor Wu, after defeating Yuan Shao at Guandu, considered what he had gained sufficient and did not pursue further, fearing the loss of prestige." Sima Zhao then desisted and appointed Wang Ji as General of the Eastern Expedition, Commander of All Military Affairs in Yangzhou, and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Dongwu.
Xi Zuochi said: The noble man considers that Sima the Grand General, in this campaign, can be said to have attacked with virtue. Those who establish achievements have different paths, each exalting what they value and cannot have both. Thus, the martial ruler who exhausts his troops dies through lack of benevolence; the state that preserves righteousness is defeated through cowardice and retreat. Now, in a single campaign, three rebels were captured, the Wu army was greatly defeated, the Huai region was swept clean, and a hundred thousand were captured or killed—this can be called magnificent. But before even sitting down to rest, he rewarded Wang Ji for his merit; he showed kindness to the Wu people, winning the affection of foreign tribes; he trusted Wen Yang and buried Zhuge Dan, forgetting past grievances; he did not blame Zhuge Dan’s followers, causing the people of Yangzhou to feel ashamed. His achievements were great, and people rejoiced in his success; his enterprise was vast, and even the enemy cherished his virtue. His martial prowess was already clear, and his civil administration was also complete. If he practiced this way, who in the world could withstand him?
When Sima Zhao captured Shouchun, Zhong Hui contributed the most in planning. Sima Zhao grew increasingly close to him and favored him, entrusting him with the most important responsibilities. People at the time compared him to Zhang Liang.
In Shu Han, Jiang Wei, hearing that Zhuge Dan had died, returned to Chengdu and was again appointed Grand General.
In the summer, in the fifth month, the emperor issued an edict appointing Sima Zhao as Chancellor, enfeoffing him as Duke of Jin, with an estate of eight commanderies, and granting him the Nine Bestowals. Sima Zhao declined nine times in succession before the matter was dropped.
In the autumn, in the seventh month, the Wu lord enfeoffed the former Prince of Qi, Sun Fen, as Marquis of Zhang'an.
In the eighth month, the Colonel of Chariot and Cavalry, Wang Chang, was appointed Minister of Works.
The emperor issued an edict appointing the Marquis of Guannei, Wang Xiang, as the Three Elders, and Zheng Xiaotong as the Five Veterans. The emperor led the assembled officials to the Imperial Academy to perform the ceremony of honoring the aged and seeking their counsel. Zheng Xiaotong was the grandson of Zheng Xuan.
In Wu, Sun Chen, because the Wu lord handled state affairs personally and repeatedly raised difficult questions, became very fearful. After returning from Huoli, he claimed illness and did not attend court. He sent his younger brother, General of the Elite Guard Sun Ju, into the Canglong Gate to serve as palace guard, while General of the Martial Guard Sun En, Lieutenant-General Sun Gan, and Colonel of the Changshui Camp Sun Kai each stationed their troops in various camps, intending to strengthen his own position. The Wu lord detested this and investigated the cause of Princess Zhu’s death. The Quan Princess, afraid, said: "I truly do not know; it was all reported by Zhu Ju’s two sons, Zhu Xiong and Zhu Sun." At that time, Zhu Xiong was Inspector of Hulin, and Zhu Sun was Inspector of the External Forces. The Wu lord had both of them executed. Zhu Sun’s wife was Sun Jun’s sister. Sun Chen admonished, but the Wu lord would not listen, and from then on, Sun Chen became even more fearful.
The Wu ruler secretly plotted with Princess Quan and General Liu Cheng to kill Sun Chen. Princess Quan’s father, Quan Shang, was Grand Master of Ceremonies and General of the Palace Guard. The Wu ruler said to Quan Shang’s son, Huangmen Quan Ji: “Sun Chen monopolizes power and treats me with contempt. Previously I ordered him to come ashore quickly to support Tang Zhi and the others, but he stayed on the lake without setting foot on land; then he shifted the blame onto Zhu Yi, killed a meritorious minister without first reporting to me, built a residence south of the bridge, and stopped attending court. He does whatever he pleases and fears nothing. I cannot endure this much longer, and I now plan to eliminate him. Your father is the commander of the central army; tell him to secretly muster troops. I will personally go to the bridgehead, lead the imperial guard cavalry and the Left and Right Wunan troops to surround him, and issue an edict ordering all of Sun Chen’s forces to disband and not to resist. This way, we can succeed. Go, but make sure he keeps it secret! Inform your father, but do not let your mother know; women understand nothing of great affairs, and Sun Chen is her cousin—if it leaks out, it will ruin my plans!” Quan Ji received the order and told Quan Shang. Quan Shang, lacking foresight, told Quan Ji’s mother, who secretly sent someone to inform Sun Chen.
On the day wuwu of the ninth month, Sun Chen sent troops by night to attack Quan Shang, captured him, and ordered his brother Sun En to kill Liu Cheng outside the Canglong Gate. At dawn, they surrounded the palace. The Wu ruler was enraged, mounted his horse with bow and arrows, and tried to go out, saying: “I am the legitimate son of the Great Emperor and have been on the throne for five years—who dares disobey!” His attendants and wet nurse together held him back, preventing his departure. He sighed, refused to eat, and cursed Princess Quan: “Your father is a fool; he has ruined my great plan!” He then sent for Quan Ji, who said: “My father failed to carry out your edict carefully and let Your Majesty down. I have no face to see you again.” He then committed suicide. Sun Chen sent the Glorious Grandee Meng Zong to offer sacrifices at the Ancestral Temple and deposed the Wu ruler, making him the Prince of Kuaiji. He summoned the officials and said: “The young emperor is dissolute, ill, and disordered; he cannot occupy the great throne or inherit the ancestral temple. I have already announced his deposition to the former emperor. If any of you have differing opinions, please state them.” Everyone was terrified and said: “We follow the general’s orders!” Sun Chen sent the Palace Secretary Li Chong to seize the seal and ribbon of the Wu ruler and publicized the ruler’s crimes far and wide. Minister Shangshu Huan Yi refused to sign the document, and Sun Chen, enraged, killed him. The Director of State, Shi Zheng, advised Sun Chen to welcome the Prince of Langye, Sun Xiu, to the throne, and Sun Chen agreed. On the day jiwei, Sun Chen sent the Imperial Clan Prefect Sun Kai and the Palace Secretary Dong Chao to Kuaiji to welcome the Prince of Langye. He sent General Sun Dan to escort the deposed Prince of Kuaiji, Sun Liang, to his fief; Sun Liang was then sixteen. Quan Shang was exiled to Lingling, but soon pursued and killed; Princess Quan was moved to Yuzhang.
On the day wuwu of the tenth month, the Prince of Langye reached Qu’e. An old man stopped the prince, kowtowed, and said: “If things drag on, change will occur. The whole realm looks to you, and I hope Your Majesty will hasten!” The prince considered this well said. That day, he advanced to Busai Pavilion. Because the Prince of Langye had not yet arrived, Sun Chen wanted to enter the palace and live there. He summoned all officials for a meeting; they all trembled and changed color, merely nodding assent. The Selection Officer Yu Si said: “Your Excellency is the Yi Yin and Duke of Zhou of the state, occupying the position of general and chancellor, wielding the power of deposition and appointment, able to stabilize the ancestral temple above and benefit the people below. All officials are eager, thinking that Yi Yin and Huo Guang have reappeared. But now, before the welcomed Prince of Langye has arrived, you wish to enter the palace first. This will unsettle the subordinates and confuse public opinion—it is not the way to display lasting loyalty and filial piety or to win fame in later ages.” Sun Chen, displeased, desisted. Yu Si was the son of Yu Fan.
Sun Chen ordered his brother Sun En to act as acting chancellor and lead the officials with the imperial carriage to welcome the Prince of Langye at Yongchang Pavilion. They built a temporary palace, using a military tent as a makeshift hall, and set up the imperial throne. On the day jimao, the Prince of Langye arrived at the makeshift hall and stopped in the eastern side-chamber. Sun En presented the imperial seal and tally; the prince thrice declined before accepting. The officials led him in order; the prince mounted the imperial chariot, and the hundred officials took their places. Sun Chen led a thousand troops to meet him halfway, kneeling by the roadside; the prince descended from the chariot and returned the bow. That day, he ascended the main hall, granted a general amnesty, and changed the reign title to Yong’an. Sun Chen styled himself “a minister of the grass and wilds,” went to the palace gate to submit a memorial, returned the seal, ribbon, and tally-axe, and requested to yield the way to worthies. The Wu ruler summoned him, comforted and instructed him, and issued an edict appointing Sun Chen as Chancellor and Governor of Jing Province, increasing his fief by five counties; appointing Sun En as Imperial Secretary, General of the Palace Guard, and Central Army Supervisor, enfeoffing him as a district marquis. Sun Ju, Sun Gan, and Sun Kai were all appointed generals and enfeoffed as marquises. He also appointed the Chief of the Changshui Guard, Zhang Bu, as Assistant General of the Right, enfeoffing him as the Marquis of Yongkang.
Earlier, the Grand Administrator of Danyang, Li Heng, had repeatedly offended the Prince of Langye in various matters. His wife, née Xi, advised him, but Li Heng did not listen. The Prince of Langye had requested to be moved to another commandery, and the emperor had issued an edict moving him to Kuaiji. When the Prince of Langye ascended the throne, Li Heng was worried and afraid. He said to his wife: “I did not listen to you, and now it has come to this. I want to flee to Wei—what do you think?” His wife said: “No. You were originally a commoner, and the late emperor promoted you excessively. You have already been repeatedly discourteous, and now you are suspicious and want to flee to save your life. If you go north like this, what face will you have to see the people of the Central Plains?” Li Heng said: “Then what can I do?” His wife said: “The Prince of Langye has always loved virtue and sought fame. He wants to show himself to the realm; he will not kill you out of private enmity—this is clear. You can imprison yourself, submit a memorial stating your past faults, and openly beg for punishment. In doing so, you will instead receive favorable treatment, not merely save your life.” Li Heng followed her advice. The Wu ruler issued an edict: “Li Heng, Grand Administrator of Danyang, because of past grudges, has surrendered himself to the judicial authorities. Matters like shooting the buckle and cutting the sleeve—a ruler should let each serve his own lord. Now send Li Heng back to his commandery and do not let him doubt himself.” He also appointed him General of Majestic Far-reaching and granted him the axe of authority.
On the day jichou, the Wu ruler enfeoffed Sun Hao, the son of the late Prince of Nanyang, Sun He, as the Marquis of Wucheng.
The officials submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of an empress and heir apparent. The Wu ruler said: “With my meager virtue, I have inherited the great foundation. The days of governing are still few, and my grace has not yet been widely spread. The titles of consorts and the position of the heir are not urgent matters.” The responsible officials insisted, but the Wu ruler did not agree.
Sun Chen took beef and wine to pay his respects to the Wu ruler, but the ruler did not accept them. Sun Chen then visited the General of the Left, Zhang Bu. When the wine was flowing freely, Sun Chen spoke resentfully: “When I deposed the young ruler, many urged me to become emperor myself. But because I considered His Majesty worthy, I welcomed him. Without me, His Majesty could not have been established. Now, when I present gifts, they are refused, and I am treated no differently from an ordinary minister. I should make other plans.” Zhang Bu reported this to the Wu ruler, who harbored resentment but, fearing a revolt, repeatedly bestowed rewards. On the day wuxu, the Wu ruler issued an edict: “The Grand Chancellor oversees all military affairs, both central and provincial, and his duties are numerous. Now add the title of Palace Attendant to the Imperial Secretary and General of the Palace Guard, Sun En, and let him share the handling of various affairs with the Grand Chancellor.” Someone informed against Sun Chen, saying he harbored resentment, spoke seditiously, and planned rebellion. The Wu ruler arrested the informer and handed him over to Sun Chen, who killed him. From then on, Sun Chen became more fearful. Through Meng Zong, he requested to be sent out to garrison Wuchang; the Wu ruler agreed. Sun Chen ordered the more than ten thousand elite troops under his central camp command to board ships, and also requisitioned weapons from the armory; the Wu ruler granted all. Sun Chen requested that the two Palace Secretaries manage the military affairs of Jing Province. The responsible officials reported that the Palace Secretaries should not leave the capital, but the Wu ruler specially approved his request. Nothing he requested was refused.
General Wei Miao advised the Wu ruler: “If Sun Chen is stationed outside, there will surely be trouble.” The Martial Guard officer Shi Shuo also reported Sun Chen’s rebellion. The Wu ruler prepared to campaign against Sun Chen and secretly asked the Assistant General of the Right, Zhang Bu, for advice. Zhang Bu said: “The General of the Left, Ding Feng, though not skilled in writing, has extraordinary strategies and can decide great matters.” The Wu ruler summoned Ding Feng, told him the situation, and asked for his plan. Ding Feng said: “The party of the Chancellor and his brothers is powerful, and I fear the hearts of the people are not united—they cannot be subdued at once. We can take advantage of the La Festival gathering and use the palace guards to kill him.” The Wu ruler followed his advice.
In the twelfth month, on the dingmao day, rumors spread in the city of Jianye that there would be a disturbance during the La festival the next day. Sun Chen heard this and was very displeased. That night, a great wind arose, tearing off roofs and raising dust and sand, making Sun Chen even more fearful. On the wuchen day, the La festival was held. Sun Chen claimed illness and did not go; the Wu ruler forced him to come, sending more than ten batches of messengers. Sun Chen, having no choice, prepared to enter the palace, but his followers tried to dissuade him. Sun Chen said, "The state has repeatedly issued orders, and I cannot refuse. You may prepare the army in advance, and have a fire set in my residence; taking advantage of this, I can return quickly." So he entered the palace. Before long, a fire broke out. Sun Chen requested to leave, but the Wu ruler said, "The troops outside are naturally numerous; there is no need to trouble the Chancellor." Sun Chen rose to leave his seat, and Ding Feng and Zhang Bu signaled to their attendants to bind him. Sun Chen kowtowed and said, "I am willing to be exiled to Jiaozhou." The Wu ruler said, "Why did you not exile Teng Yin and Lü Ju to Jiaozhou?" Sun Chen then said, "I am willing to be made a government slave." The Wu ruler said, "Why did you not make Teng Yin and Lü Ju slaves?" Then he had him killed. Taking Sun Chen's head, he ordered his troops, saying, "All who conspired with Sun Chen are pardoned." Five thousand men laid down their arms. Sun Kai tried to escape north by boat but was pursued and killed. Sun Chen's three clans were exterminated. Sun Jun's coffin was dug up, his seal and ribbon removed, his coffin smashed, and then reburied.
On the jisi day, the Wu ruler appointed Zhang Bu as Commander of the Central Army. He reburied Zhuge Ke, Teng Yin, Lü Ju, and others, and all those who had been exiled far away due to their involvement with Zhuge Ke and his associates were recalled. Some court officials requested that a stele be erected for Zhuge Ke. The Wu ruler issued an edict saying, "To raise troops in the height of summer, causing casualties and losses among the soldiers, without achieving even a foot of merit, cannot be called talent; to be entrusted with the care of an orphaned ruler and yet die at the hands of a junior cannot be called wisdom." So the matter was dropped.
Earlier, the late Emperor of Han had left Wei Yan to guard Hanzhong, always reinforcing the various stockades to repel enemies, so that if enemies attacked, they could not enter. When the Xing-Shi campaign occurred, Wang Ping resisted Cao Shuang, following this same system. By the time Jiang Wei took power, he proposed, "Alternating defense of the various stockades can only repel enemies but cannot achieve great results. It would be better to let the enemy hear of our arrival, have all stockades gather their troops and store grain, withdraw to defend the two cities of Han and Le, and allow the enemy to enter the plains. Focus on defending the strategic passes to resist them, while sending roving troops to attack their weak points. If the enemy attacks the cities without success, there will be no scattered grain in the fields, and transporting provisions over a thousand li will naturally exhaust them. When they retreat, then all the cities can sortie together with the roving troops to attack them—this is a method for annihilating the enemy." So the Han ruler ordered Hu Ji, the Inspector of Hanzhong, to withdraw and defend Hanshou, while Inspector Wang Han defended Lecheng, and Protector Jiang Bin defended Hancheng.
In the spring, in the first month, two yellow dragons appeared in a well in Ningling. Before this, dragons had repeatedly appeared in tribute items from Dunqiu, Guanjun, Yangxia, and other places. The officials considered this an auspicious omen, but the emperor said, "The dragon is a symbol of the ruler's virtue. It neither appears in the sky above nor in the fields below, yet it repeatedly stoops to dwell in a well—this is not a good sign." He composed a poem called "The Hidden Dragon" to satirize himself. When Sima Zhao saw it, he was very displeased.
In the summer, in the sixth month, the Marquis Mu of Jingling, Wang Chang, died.
The Han ruler enfeoffed his son Liu Chen as Prince of Beidi, Liu Xun as Prince of Xinxing, and Liu Qian as Prince of Shangdang. The Master of Writing, Chen Zhi, was favored by the Han ruler for his flattery and cunning. Although Jiang Wei held a higher position than Chen Zhi, he was often leading troops outside and rarely involved in court affairs, so his power was less than Chen Zhi's. In the autumn, in the eighth month, on the bingzi day, Chen Zhi died. The Han ruler appointed the Servitor Yiyang native Dong Jue as Master of Writing, and the Master of Writing Zhuge Zhan as Servitor.
In the winter, in the eleventh month, the Chariot and Cavalry General Sun Yi was killed by a maidservant.
In this year, Wang Ji was appointed General of the Southern Expedition and given command of all military affairs in Jingzhou.
Emperor Yuan (Part One)
In the spring, in the first month, on the first day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred.
In the summer, in the fourth month, an edict was issued ordering the relevant authorities to follow the previous command and again promote the General-in-Chief Sima Zhao to Chancellor, enfeoff him as Duke of Jin, and grant him the Nine Bestowals.
The emperor saw that his authority and power were gradually being lost and could not bear the humiliation. In the fifth month, on the jichou day, he summoned the Palace Attendant Wang Shen, the Master of Writing Wang Jing, and the Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary Wang Ye, and said to them, "Sima Zhao's ambition is known to every man on the street. I cannot sit idly by and wait to be deposed and humiliated. Today, I shall personally go out with you to punish him." Wang Jing said, "In ancient times, Duke Zhao of Lu could not tolerate the Ji family, fled and lost his state, and was laughed at by all under Heaven. Now, the great power has been in his family for a long time. The court and the four quarters all wish to die for him, disregarding the principles of right and wrong—this is not something that happened in a single day. Moreover, the palace guards are empty, and weapons and armor are few and weak. On what basis does Your Majesty act? If you do this once, would it not be like wanting to remove an illness but aggravating it instead? The calamity may be unpredictable; you should consider carefully." The emperor then took out a yellow silk edict from his bosom and threw it to the ground, saying, "The decision is already made! Even death is nothing to fear, and it is not certain that I will die!" So he went in to inform the Empress Dowager. Wang Shen and Wang Ye ran out to report to Sima Zhao, calling for Wang Jing to go with them, but Wang Jing did not comply. The emperor then drew his sword, mounted his chariot, and charged out with the palace guards, servants, and minor officials, shouting. Sima Zhao's younger brother, the Colonel of the City Gate Cavalry, Sima Zhou, encountered the emperor at the East Stop Carriage Gate. The emperor's attendants shouted at him, and Sima Zhou's troops all scattered. The Protector of the Army, Jia Chong, came in from outside and met the emperor head-on at the southern gate, where they fought. The emperor personally wielded his sword. The troops wanted to retreat. The Cavalry Commandant Cheng Cui's younger brother, the Crown Prince's Attendant Cheng Ji, asked Jia Chong, "The situation is urgent—what should we do?" Jia Chong said, "Sima Gong has supported you all precisely for today. Today's matter—there is nothing to ask about!" Cheng Ji immediately thrust his halberd forward and stabbed the emperor, who fell beneath his chariot. When Sima Zhao heard of this, he was greatly shocked and fell to the ground himself. The Grand Guardian Sima Fu hurried over, pillowed the emperor's thigh, and wept bitterly, saying, "It is my fault that the one who killed Your Majesty has done this!"
Sima Zhao entered the hall and summoned the assembled ministers to discuss the matter. The Left Servitor of the Masters of Writing, Chen Tai, did not come. Sima Zhao sent his maternal uncle, the Master of Writing Xun Yi, to summon him. Chen Tai said, "People discuss me and compare me to my uncle, but now my uncle is not as good as me." His younger brothers and all his family pressured him, so he finally went. When he saw Sima Zhao, he wept bitterly. Sima Zhao also wept facing him and said, "Xuanbo, what do you want me to do?" Chen Tai said, "Only by killing Jia Chong can you slightly apologize to the world." Sima Zhao thought for a long time and then said, "Consider a lesser alternative." Chen Tai said, "What I have said is only a more extreme measure; I do not know of any lesser alternative." Sima Zhao then said no more. Xun Yi was the son of Xun Yu.
The Empress Dowager issued an edict enumerating the crimes of the Duke of Gaoguixiang, deposing him as a commoner, and ordering his burial with commoner's rites. Wang Jing and his family were arrested and handed over to the Commandant of Justice. Wang Jing apologized to his mother, but his mother's expression did not change. She smiled and replied, "Who can avoid death? What matters is whether death comes at the right place. To die together like this—what regret is there?" When they were executed, the former official Xiang Xiong wept loudly, his cries shaking the entire marketplace. Wang Shen was enfeoffed as Marquis of Anping for his meritorious service. On the gengyin day, the Grand Guardian Sima Fu and others submitted a memorial requesting that the Duke of Gaoguixiang be buried with princely rites. The Empress Dowager agreed. The Protector of the Army, Sima Yan, was sent to Ye City to welcome Cao Huang, the son of the Prince of Yan, Cao Yu, and the Duke of Changdaoxiang, as the heir to Emperor Ming. Sima Yan was the son of Sima Zhao.
On the xinmao day, the various lords submitted a memorial to the Empress Dowager, stating that from then on, all command documents should be called "imperial edicts."
On the guimao day, Sima Zhao firmly declined the appointments of Chancellor, Duke of Jin, and the Nine Bestowals. The Empress Dowager issued an edict agreeing.
On the wushen day, Sima Zhao submitted a memorial saying, "The brothers Cheng Ji are guilty of great treason." Their clan was exterminated.
In the sixth month, on the guichou day, the Empress Dowager issued an edict changing the Duke of Changdaoxiang's name to Cao Huan. On the jiayin day, the Duke of Changdaoxiang entered Luoyang and that day ascended the imperial throne. He was then fifteen years old. A general amnesty was granted, and the reign title was changed.
On the bingchen day, an edict was issued promoting Sima Zhao's rank and granting the Nine Bestowals as before. Sima Zhao firmly declined, so the matter was dropped.
On the guihai day, the Left Servitor of the Masters of Writing, Wang Guan, was appointed as Minister of Works.
Yan Mi, a commandant of Wu, proposed building Puli Pond. All the ministers thought it would be difficult; only Wei General Chen Liuren, Pu Yangxing, believed it could be done. Thus, troops and commoners were assembled to begin the work, consuming incalculable amounts of manpower and wealth. Many soldiers died, and the common people were deeply distressed and resentful.
In Kuaiji Commandery, rumors spread that Wang Liang should return to court as the Son of Heaven. Wang Liang's palace attendants accused him of having shamans pray and offer sacrifices, uttering malicious words. The responsible officials reported this to the throne. The Wu ruler demoted Wang Liang to Marquis of Houguan and sent him to his fief. Wang Liang committed suicide, and those who escorted him were all punished. In winter, the tenth month, Yangxiang Suhou Wang Guan died.
In the eleventh month, an edict was issued to honor the Prince of Yan with special rites.
In the twelfth month, on the jiawu day, Wang Xiang, the Colonel Director of Retainers, was appointed Minister of Works.
Shangshu Wang Shen became Inspector of Yuzhou. Upon arriving at his post, he issued a directive to the counties under his jurisdiction and to the scholars and commoners, saying: "If anyone can state the good and bad of local officials, and recount the hardships of the people, I will reward them with five hundred hu of grain. If anyone can point out the inspector's successes and failures, or the leniency or strictness of court policies, I will reward them with one thousand hu of grain." Chief Clerk Chen Yin and a certain Chu entered to report, saying: "The intent of your directive is to hear harsh words and to encourage remonstrance with rewards. But we privately fear that cautious and upright people might be afraid of the reward and remain silent, while greedy people might covet the profit and speak recklessly. If the words are untimely, and the reward is not easily given, then those far away will not know the standard of right and wrong. They will only see that the remonstrance is not accepted, and they will think the directive is an empty gesture that is not carried out. In our humble opinion, the matters announced below can wait a little." Wang Shen then issued another order, saying: "When those above initiate beneficial affairs, and those below accept their proper duties, this is inherently the conduct of a gentleman. What is there that cannot be said?" Chu again reported, saying: "Yao, Shun, and the Duke of Zhou were able to attract loyal and forthright remonstrances because their sincere intentions were manifested externally. Ice and charcoal do not speak, but the nature of cold and heat is naturally understood, because they have real substance. If one delights in loyalty and directness as naturally as ice and charcoal, then upright words will come without being sought. If one's virtue is insufficient to match Tang Yao and Yu Shun, and one's wisdom is insufficient to equal the Duke of Zhou, truly one cannot be compared to ice and charcoal. Even if the reward is heavy, loyal remonstrance may not necessarily be attracted." Wang Shen then desisted.
In spring, the third month, Hu Lie, the Grand Administrator of Xiangyang, submitted a memorial, saying: "Wu generals Deng You, Li Guang, and others from eighteen military camps have jointly plotted to submit. They have sent envoys with hostages, requesting that our commandery's troops proceed to the banks of the Yangzi River to receive them." An edict ordered Wang Ji to deploy the various armies to proceed directly to the Ju River to greet them. "If Deng You and the others arrive on schedule, we should take this opportunity to shake Jiangdong." Wang Ji sent a letter by post horse to Sima Zhao, explaining the suspicious circumstances of Deng You and the others. "We should first ascertain the truth; it is not appropriate to immediately dispatch a large force deep to receive them." He also said: "The roads east and west of Yiling are all dangerous and narrow, with dense bamboo and trees. If we suddenly encounter the enemy at a strategic point, bows, crossbows, and horses will all be difficult to deploy. Now the sinews and horns are damp and weak, and the rains are falling. Wasting the busy farming season to pursue a doubtful gain is a very dangerous matter. Jiang Wei's advance on Shanggui and Wen Qin's occupation of Shouchun were both deep penetrations seeking profit, yet they ended in defeat. These are recent lessons. Since the Jiaping era, there have been many internal disturbances. What should be done now is to stabilize the altars of state, pacify superiors and subordinates, strive to promote agriculture as the foundation, and cherish the common people. It is not appropriate to raise armies and mobilize the masses to pursue external gains." Sima Zhao received Wang Ji's letters repeatedly and was hesitant. He ordered the armies that had already set out to temporarily halt at their current locations and await further orders. Wang Ji again wrote to Sima Zhao, saying: "In the past, Emperor Gaozu of Han adopted Li Yiji's suggestion and wanted to enfeoff the six states, but later, awakened by Zhang Liang's strategy, he immediately destroyed the seals. My plans are shallow and indeed inferior to those of Marquis Liu, but I also fear that Xiangyang might produce someone like Li Yiji." Sima Zhao then halted the campaign and replied to Wang Ji, saying: "Most of those who handle affairs tend to comply reluctantly, and few firmly discuss the actual facts together. I truly appreciate your loyal and caring heart. Every time I see your admonitions and instructions, I follow your opinion. I have already stopped the military action." Soon afterward, Deng You and the others indeed did not surrender. Hu Lie was Hu Fen's younger brother.
In autumn, the eighth month, on the jiayin day, Sima Zhao was again appointed to advance in rank as before, but he did not accept.
In winter, the tenth month, the Han ruler (Liu Shan) appointed Dong Jue as Grand General of the Guard and Support, and Zhuge Zhan as Commander of the Guard and General of the Guard, jointly managing the affairs of the Secretariat. He appointed Fan Jian, a Palace Attendant, as Director of the Secretariat. At that time, the Regular Palace Attendant Huang Hao was in power. Dong Jue and Zhuge Zhan could not correct him. Most scholar-officials attached themselves to Huang Hao; only Fan Jian had no dealings with him. Secretary Ling Xi Zheng had long served in the inner palace, living adjacent to Huang Hao for over thirty years. He remained indifferent and content, amusing himself with reading, neither favored nor hated by Huang Hao. Thus, his official rank did not exceed six hundred shi, but he also did not suffer harm. The Han ruler's younger brother, Ganling Wang Liu Yong, hated Huang Hao. Huang Hao slandered him, causing Liu Yong to be unable to appear at court for ten years. The Wu ruler (Sun Xiu) sent the Five Offices General of the Household Xue Xu as an envoy to the Han state. After his return, the Wu ruler asked about the political gains and losses of the Han. Xue Xu replied: "The ruler is benighted and unaware of his own faults; the ministers drift along to avoid blame. Entering the court, one hears no direct remonstrances; passing through the fields, one sees the people with sallow faces. I have heard that sparrows build their nests in the hall, mothers and children rejoicing together, thinking themselves very secure. When the chimney cracks and the beams burn, the sparrows are still carefree, unaware that disaster is about to descend. This is perhaps the situation!" Xue Xu was Xue Zong's son.
That year, the Xianbei Suotou tribe chieftain Tuoba Liwei began sending his son, Shamohan, to court to offer tribute and remaining as a hostage. Liwei's ancestors had lived for generations in the northern wilderness, with no contact with the southern Chinese states. By the time of Kehan Mao, they first became powerful, ruling over thirty-six states and ninety-nine great clans. After five generations, it reached Kehan Tuiyin, who moved south to the Great Marsh. After another seven generations, it reached Kehan Lin, who ordered his seven brothers and the clans Yizhishi and Chegunshi to each lead their followers, dividing them into ten tribes. When Kehan Lin grew old, he passed the position to his son, Qifen, ordering him to migrate south, and they settled in the old territory of the Xiongnu. After Qifen died, Liwei succeeded him. He then moved again to Shengle in Dingxiang. His followers gradually grew strong, and all the tribes feared and submitted to him.